Spring-tongue snap-hook.



No. 893,448. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

.J. 0. COVERT.

SPRING TONGUE SNAP HOOK.

APPLICATION I'ILE'D SEPT. 30, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

gawc/wtoz Y ,jgmaf werf PATENTED JULY 14., 1908.

' J. c. COVERT.

SPRING TONGUE SNAP HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED $32130, 1907.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Tm. MW

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. COVERT, OF WATERVLIET, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COVERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WATERVLIET, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPRING-TONGUE SNAP-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. COVERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watervliet, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Tongue Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in spring tongue snap hooks and it is embodied in theconstruction and arrangement of parts presently to be described and defined in the claims.

In the class of spring tongue snap hooks, there are two prominent types, one of which is known as the U-spring tongue and the other as the straight spring tongue or German snap. The present invention relates more particularly to this latter class or type of spring tongue snap. While the so-called German snap or straight spring tongue type has been largely used, it has been found necessary generally to bend the spring permanently during manufacture so as to have the attaching part or butt at an angle to the tongue part. This has resulted in rendering the snap somewhat objectionable, inasmuch as the springs, unless perfectly tempered, would break at the bend. This liability of breaking was also materially increased when the temperature was low.

The object of my invention is to produce a straight tongue snap and to so construct the casting or hook part that the tongue is prevented from being bent at a dangerous angle at any part; that the tongue can be secured to the body part in such a manner as to prevent any possible lateral movement; and finally, to provide a straight tongue snap that can be readily manufactured and one which will have a smooth even outer surface and a protected connection between the from the nature and principle of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top and bottom plan views of the casting as it is arranged before the tongue is applied, Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively top and bottom plan views of the completed hook, Fig. 5. is a longitudinal section of the casting, Fig. 6 is asimilar View of the completed hook, Fig. 7 is a plan View of the spring, Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the connecting portion showing the parts adjusted for permanent connection, Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the parts fixedly united, and Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively bottom plan views of a slightly modified form showing the spring in position for permanent connection and permanently connected.

A designates th body of the casting or hook part, B the bill, and'C the attaching loop. The body is peculiarly formed, having its under side near the loop recessed as at D, the upper wall (1 of the recess being inclined obliquely upward, and the side walls (1 are inclined outwardly towards the rear, While the back wall d is conveniently vertically disposed. Extending downwardly from the inclined top wall of the recess D are the securing lugs D which are conveniently located on opposite sides of the center of the recess. Any number of these lugs can be used, but I have found it advantageous to employ two or, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a single oblong lug. In forming these lugs, they are integral with the body part and are shaped with an inclined forward edge and a substantially vertical rear edge, for the purpose to be presently stated. These lugs D are located substantially midway of the width of the inclined top part 01, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 4. The top part (1 of the recess has an opening d therein, which opening has its forward or front wall preferably straight, as shown in d*, Figs. 1 and 2. From the straight wall of the opening, the body part A isgradually curved upward and then downward in a regular curve as at a forming an abutment, and this curve leads from the immediate forward wall d of the opening to a point below or adjacent to the plane of the end of the bill of the hook.

The spring E is straight and of tapered formation throughout, its rear end being provided with two openings 6 fashioned to receive the lugs D. The size of the rear end of the spring is such as to fit substantially the converging sides of the recess or seat D, so that the spring fitting the walls will be held wedge-like in place. The spring is inserted through the opening d point first and is forced forward until the larger end of the spring enters the recess with the lugs D passing through the perforations e. In this position, the parts are held, but owing to the various uses to which this type of snap is usually applied, it is necessary to fixedly hold the spring against pressure in all directions, that is, outward, downward and lateral. With this in vew, the upper outer face of the rear of the body, as at A, is inclined slightly and by this inclination, when the parts are placed on the anvil or riveting base the rivets or lugs D will be struck a blow somewhat oblique and towards the rear and thereby forcing over the end of the rivet or lug towards the rear of the recess and onto the spring. By performing the riveting in the manner described, the metal of the rivet or lug engages the spring and seats it firmly against the rear -wall d thus locking securely the spring not only in its seat in the recess but firmly against any movement whatsoever. The spring being secured in position, the end of the casting is turned up over the end of the spring, .as shown in Fig. 6, and owing to the inclination of the top wall (Z of the recess, the spring is held substantially straight from its point of connection to the overhanging end of the hook. It will also be noticed that the spring as it leaves the recess rests on the curved surface a. When the spring is bent down, it meets with the rest or curved surface which starts from a point substantially in line with the oblique top d, as shown in the drawings substantially throughout its entire length. This is important in this class of snaphooks, inasmuch as it avoids the forming of any abrupt angle over which to bend the spring and thereby it is renderedpractically impossible to break or snap the spring.

As above stated, instead of the two lugs or rivets, a single lug or rivet D may be used, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. e Other means, of course can be employed for securing the spring fixedly in the recess, but the above described means have been found satisfactory in that the ressure or clam ing between the lugs and the back wall ta (es place on opposite sides of the center of the spring as distinguished from a single central point.

jecting fastening means or exposed points of the spring at the connection. This is an important feature in the construction.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spring tongue snap, the combination with a body having a hook part and a recess in its back near its rear end provided with an opening leading through the upper portion thereof, said recess having a back part or wall extending downwardly and terminating at the plane of the under face of the body, a spring passing through said opening, one end being placed under the hook and its rear end being seated in said recess, and means located within the recess wholly below the plane of the under side of the body passing through said spring and clamping the spring between the same and the said back wall, said means being located on opposite sides of the center of the spring.

2. A casting for spring tongue snap hooks comprising a body part having a recessed un' der side formed with a back wall, and a transversely arranged spring securing lug located within the recess, said lug having its rear side arranged perpendicular to the axis of the casting and its forward side at an obtuse angle thereto, for the purposes specified.

3. A casting for spring tongue snap hooks consisting of a body part having a recessed under side near the rear end thereof, which recess is provided with a sloping top, an opening leading from the recess to the upper surface of the body, and an elongated curved surface extending from the opening forward to a point adjacent the plane of the forward end of the body, and transversely arranged securing means located in the recess and projecting from the sloping top wall thereof and on opposite sides of the center of the recess, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. COVERT. Witnesses:

L. S. BACON, EDWIN S. CLARKsoN. 

